Thought Prints

Carpe Diem #1755 Sheperd's Purse (1st anniversary prompt) Inspiration haiku from our host, Chèvrefeuille, as we begin a month celebrating seven years of the Carpe Diem Haiku Kai . yoku mireba nazuna hana saku kakine kana looking closely: a shepherd’s purse blossoming beneath the hedge © Matsuo Basho (Tr. Barnhill) in the shadow filled with seeds of hope shepherd's purses © petra domina

Carpe Diem #1754 "An Act Of Devotion" ... the pilgrimage ends It was to be the last night before we left for a new pilgrimage.  We would return in two weeks to get his mom to live in a new memory care unit close to our new home.  It was not to follow our humanly plans.  Mom just wanted to go "find Daddy", her name for her husband.  Her son, my husband, had cared for both parents, even retiring early in order to give better care.  His one last act of devotion was to tell his Mom, "It's ok to go on now and go find Daddy."  Her last words were of love.  Then the pain drugs took over her mind.  The next morning as soon as she was moved to the same floor where "Daddy" had passed, she left this world.  We will always believe Daddy had come for her and she had found him. arms of devotion caressing the giver of life last embrace © petra domina

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #104 Photo-shopping Haiku "Camellia" (Yosa Buson) Illustrated version of Basho's "Narrow Road Into The Deep North" with haiga by Buson Here is the haiku to "photo-shop": tama-suri-no zayu ni hiraku tsubaki kana Unfolding at the hand of the glass polisher: a camellia! © Buson (1716-1784) Any one who visited my different blogs may be aware that I worked in and around computer graphics for decades.  Once I retired I took on the project of scanning my mother's many photos.  I began using photoshop to repair the damages to photos.  Missing parts, speckles, mildew damage, etc. were removed, added or repaired.  Thirteen years has seen an improvement in my use of the photoshop tools.  Sometimes nothing more than straighten the photo is all that is needed.  Can I improve or slightly adjust Buson's haiku?  We shall see. Unfolding in the hand of the glass polisher: a camellia! Buson & petra domina ...

Carpe Diem #1753 Trail of Saints, Krakow, Poland A modest nun of the Convent of the Sisters of Our  Lady of Mercy, Helena Kowalska (1905–38) source: https://sacrum.visitmalopolska.pl/-/sw-siostra-faustyna-53 Service, commitment, a smile, a cup of food or water.  Rendered in Love with only thoughts of others' needs.  Too tall a task to be taken by most humans.  There are those who give totally, fully, all of self till self disappears and only the seed of love remains. A seed that will grow with the light if goodness. earthly angels hushed footprints of old nudge pilgrims © petra domina Click here for challenge post.

Carpe Diem #1752 Pilgrimage of the Relics, Maastricht (The Netherlands) Growing up in a Protestant faith, relics were not something I encountered.  In my 70th year while visiting Europe for the first time I finally saw them.  I still did not quite see how bones or a cup could have an influence on a person's faith.  As I read today's challenge post I began remembering the effect of standing by the dining tent used by George Washington during the Revolutionary War.  The. Actual.  Tent.  I was moved to tears.  And there it was, enlightenment, understanding. dem bones saintly remains call to faithful © petra domina Relics in Stift Melk Abbey, Austria.  In the heaven on earth room.  April, 2016

Carpe Diem #1751 Lough Derg, Donegal (Ireland) blue haze swirled by spirits voices calling join the walk to peacefulness © petra domina Join Chèvrefeuille and the other poets at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai .  Chèvrefeuille is our host and master guiding us to adventures and learning.